the rubberized fabrics are always made in a factory. i believe they treat the fabric first, then spray on and speed-dry the coatings. would be hard to replicate at home. i don't know what you can use to make a fine enough mist. if you want to start with that kind of fabric, all i can say is TEFLON PRESSER FOOT :p i got some from b+j fabrics in the city a few years ago... have played with it a little, but still don't know what i want to use it for.

some things you can do to play with fabric:

- there is a product called "fiber etch" or "etch fiber" or "fabric etch" or something like that which you can use to selectively burn away plant fibers. you just apply it with a brush or whatever you want to use and iron it, which dissolves the fibers where you applied it. you can use blended fabrics, too, which creates a neat effect sometimes (the stuff will only dissolve the plant fiber and will leave the synthetic intact). this stuff is really, really fun to play with!

- if you have some regular silk velvet, you can crush it yourself easily. just scrunch it, pleat it, whatever... lay it down on your ironing board (you may have to use pins, just be sure to use ones that won't rust! chrome-plated steel is usually good for this, but test first) and steam it good. let it dry a little and then open it up and fluff it... ta-da! gorgeous crushed velvet. it works SO WELL with silk, the poly just looks junky.

- you can get interfacing that dissolves in water and sew/embroider on it with cool thread/ribbons/etc, then dissolve the interfacing afterwards. i've done some really interesting things this way, like making trimmings and lacy panels etc.

i'll post more as i think of it... if you have a question about a certain technique, ask away, i might have an answer.

You can make that gauzy, crinkly treatment wetting the fabric, then wringing. Then you wrap it tightly around a broomstick handle and put rubber bands at random intervals. Then you let it dry, and spray on fabric finishing spray. The crinkles never go away, even when you wash.

- there is a product called "fiber etch" or "etch fiber" or "fabric etch" or something like that which you can use to selectively burn away plant fibers. you just apply it with a brush or whatever you want to use and iron it, which dissolves the fibers where you applied it. you can use blended fabrics, too, which creates a neat effect sometimes (the stuff will only dissolve the plant fiber and will leave the synthetic intact). this stuff is really, really fun to play with!

So if you apply this to a natural/synthetic blend, you can make patterns in the fabric?

So if you apply this to a natural/synthetic blend, you can make patterns in the fabric?

yup! the less plant fiber in it, the more subtle the effect. it's a gel, so it's not terribly difficult to apply, either... you can make a stencil and use that, or just paint it on freehand, etc. i've used it on rayon/silk velvet that i pre-crushed and dyed to make AMAZING devore. i have plans to try it out on some wool/rayon jersey sooner than later. try it, you'll like it!

yup! the less plant fiber in it, the more subtle the effect. it's a gel, so it's not terribly difficult to apply, either... you can make a stencil and use that, or just paint it on freehand, etc. i've used it on rayon/silk velvet that i pre-crushed and dyed to make AMAZING devore. i have plans to try it out on some wool/rayon jersey sooner than later. try it, you'll like it!

You have me so excited I'm already drawing out the design on paper, trying not to make it so intricate that I can't properly apply the gel. I'm glad you started this thread, if just for that!

the rubberized fabrics are always made in a factory. i believe they treat the fabric first, then spray on and speed-dry the coatings. would be hard to replicate at home. i don't know what you can use to make a fine enough mist. if you want to start with that kind of fabric, all i can say is TEFLON PRESSER FOOT :p i got some from b+j fabrics in the city a few years ago... have played with it a little, but still don't know what i want to use it for.

some things you can do to play with fabric:

- there is a product called "fiber etch" or "etch fiber" or "fabric etch" or something like that which you can use to selectively burn away plant fibers. you just apply it with a brush or whatever you want to use and iron it, which dissolves the fibers where you applied it. you can use blended fabrics, too, which creates a neat effect sometimes (the stuff will only dissolve the plant fiber and will leave the synthetic intact). this stuff is really, really fun to play with!

- if you have some regular silk velvet, you can crush it yourself easily. just scrunch it, pleat it, whatever... lay it down on your ironing board (you may have to use pins, just be sure to use ones that won't rust! chrome-plated steel is usually good for this, but test first) and steam it good. let it dry a little and then open it up and fluff it... ta-da! gorgeous crushed velvet. it works SO WELL with silk, the poly just looks junky.

- you can get interfacing that dissolves in water and sew/embroider on it with cool thread/ribbons/etc, then dissolve the interfacing afterwards. i've done some really interesting things this way, like making trimmings and lacy panels etc.

i'll post more as i think of it... if you have a question about a certain technique, ask away, i might have an answer.

wow thanks so much!!! how about satins?? how do i loose the shine i want it to look a bit matte? is there a method for that?